The Lawhead Team would like to share some tips to reducing your Air Conditioning electric bills this summer. Beat the heat with these tips:

• Replace HVAC air filters often to ensure you are getting the maximum use out of your air conditioner. Normal dust build-up can reduce air flow by 1 percent per week, boosting up your electric bills monthly!
• Make sure to turn off your AC if you leave your house for more than an hour to save on electric bills.
• Reduce your cooling load. Provide effective shade for your east and west windows and if possible, delay heat generated activities such as dish washing until the evening.
• Keep your home closed up tight during the day. Don’t let unwanted heat and humidity in by leaving windows or doors cracked open. At night when the air is cooler, ventilate your house by leaving the windows open and propping a fan up in the window. If you have ceiling fans, use them to provide air flow as well. This will be less than having to turn on your air conditioner, thus saving in electric bills.
• Plant shade trees around your home. However, if you want to benefit from passive solar heat in the winter, don’t plant trees on the south side of your home.
• If you have to buy a new air conditioner, be sure to purchase energy efficient one that is properly sized to still stay low on  your electric bills. You can get assistance from an energy auditor or your air conditioning contractor.
• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees F or higher if using ceiling fans. Also make sure not to air condition unused rooms which will waste money on your electric bills.